US President Joe Biden will reinstate a ban on travelers from the European Union (EU), the UK and Brazil on Monday, including South Africa, as part of his effort against the coronavirus pandemic, local media reported this Sunday.
The CNN chain and the publication Politico, which cited sources from the White House, pointed out that the decision reversed the measure announced on January 18, two days before leaving power, by former President Donald Trump. The restrictions were to be lifted as of next Tuesday, January 26.
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During this day, the United States exceeded 25 million infected by the virus, and reached 417,538 deaths, which keeps it as the country most affected by the pandemic in the world.
The ban on passengers from the European Union and the United Kingdom was imposed by Trump in March, while the one on Brazil dates from May. In his decision on January 18, Trump decided to keep the travel restriction in force for passengers from China and Iran.
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As soon as the order of the Republican leader was known, the current White House spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, then pointed out on her Twitter account that “with the worsening of the pandemic and the emergence of more contagious variants around the world, this is not the best time to lift restrictions on international travel. ”
“The Administration does not intend to lift these restrictions on January 26”, anticipated the current spokeswoman.
In addition, the United States will require a negative covid-19 test from Tuesday to all air passengers before flying to the country, including Americans. The measure, announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on January 12, also establishes the recommendation to undergo a new test three to five days after arrival in the country and remain in quarantine in home for seven days after the trip.
The chief US epidemiologist, Anthony Fauci, pointed out this Sunday that after the data released by the UK Government, it should be assumed that the British variant can “cause more damage, including death”, and pointed out that the vaccine continues being effective even against the South African variant.
Fauci indicated that the British variation of the virus is “in at least 20 states of the United States”, and pointed out that the vaccines administered in the country, that of Moderna and Pfizer, “seem to continue to protect against the mutant strain.”
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Asked about the presence in the United States of the lineage discovered in South Africa, he admitted that he cannot say “definitely” that they know it as fact.
The official indicated that, although it has been observed that the South African mutation can “in some respects” nullify the effectiveness of the vaccines, they are still within a “buffer level” that makes them effective against these variants.
EFE
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